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| Leptobrachella chishuiensis Li, Liu, Wei & Wang, 2023 |
Abstract
A new species of the Asian leaf litter toad genus Leptobrachella from Guizhou Province, China is described based on molecular phylogenetic analyses, morphological comparisons, and bioacoustics data. Phylogenetic analyses based on the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene sequences supported the new species as an independent clade nested into the Leptobrachella clade and sister to L. bijie. The new species could be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: small body size (SVL 30.8–33.4 mm in seven adult males, and 34.2 mm in one adult female); dorsal skin shagreened, some of the granules forming longitudinal short skin ridges; tympanum distinctly discernible, slightly concave; internasal distance longer than interorbital distance; supra-axillary, femoral, pectoral and ventrolateral glands distinctly visible; absence of webbing and lateral fringes on fingers; toes with rudimentary webbing and shallow lateral fringes, relative finger lengths II < IV < I < III; heels overlapped when thighs are positioned at right angles to the body; and tibia-tarsal articulation reaches the tympanum.
Keywords: Guizhou, molecular phylogenetic analyses, morphology, new species, taxonomy
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| Photos of the holotype CIBCS20190518047 of Leptobrachella chishuiensis sp. nov. in life A dorsal view B ventral view C dorsal view of hand D ventral view of hand E ventral view of foot. |
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| Habitats of Leptobrachella chishuiensis sp. nov. in the type locality Chuishui National Nature Reserve, Chishui City, Guizhou Province, China A landscape of montane forests in the type locality B a mountain stream in the type locality (insert holotype CIBCS20190518047 in life in the field). |
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| Colour variation in Leptobrachella chishuiensis sp. nov. A dorsal view of the male specimen CIBCS20190518042 B dorsal view of the female specimen CIBCS20190518046 C ventral view of the female specimen CIBCS20190518046 D ventral view of the female specimen CIBCS20190518049. |
Leptobrachella chishuiensis sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Leptobrachella chishuiensis sp. nov. is assigned to the genus Leptobrachella based on molecular phylogenetic analyses and the following morphological characters: small body size; having an elevated inner metacarpal tubercle; having macro-glands on body (including supra-axillary, femoral andventrolateral glands); lacking vomerine teeth; having small tubercles on eyelids; anterior tip of snout with whitish vertical bar (Dubois 1983; Matsui 1997, 2006; Lathrop et al. 1998; Delorme et al. 2006; Das et al. 2010; Luo et al. 2020).
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Etymology: This specific name chishuiensis refers to the distribution of this species, Chishui City, Guizhou Province, China. We propose the common English name “Chishui Leaf Litter Toads” (English) and its Chinese as “Chi Shui Zhang Tu Chan (赤水掌突蟾)”.
Shi-Ze Li, Jing Liu, Gang Wei and Bin Wang. 2023. A New Species of the Asian Leaf Litter Toad Genus Leptobrachella (Amphibia, Anura, Megophryidae) from southwest China. ZooKeys. 943: 91-118. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.943.51572
